Think back to the last time you got lost when driving. You probably can’t think of a recent time because of amazing navigation apps! But are they all amazing? The three major apps that do so are Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps. It is a very controversial topic when talking about your favorite of the three. If you have a favorite, there is likely a very passionate response to the question “Why?”. You may be wondering what the big deal is; don’t they all lead you to the same place? The reality is that each app has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Waze

My personal favorite is Waze. When I’m using my phone as navigation, I immediately head to Waze. There is no doubt that it gives you the quickest, safest, and smartest route to go. One of my favorite qualities of the app is that it tells you when you’re speeding. There is an extremely visible icon in the top corner that will turn red when you are going over the speed limit. This is very helpful for those who never check for the speed limit sign. Waze also updates you when there is an accident, a stopped car, or a hidden cop. Not only does Waze update this, Waze users can also report obstacles on the road. This is a very unique quality although other apps that do include this feature are never as up-to-date and accurate as Waze. Another favorite trait of mine is that Waze gives you the fastest route possible. All the apps say that they are giving you the quickest route, but when I’m heading to the same place as a friend, our routes are different, the one who uses Waze usually gets there first. The best quality is that you can change the voice of the speaker. You can make the speaker tell dad jokes, act sassy, and adjust the tone of the voice. This makes a long, boring drive 10x better.

Apple Maps

The original and most basic one of them all is Apple Maps. Apple Maps gives you a variety of routes, however, it doesn’t reach the standards that Waze holds. Apple Maps has some amazing features, but I think the best one is being able to add a stop along your drive. If the other apps have this feature, they don’t make it very accessible. Apple Maps makes sure you have this option no matter how close the destination is. I think this is very handy because If I want to get food, shop, or stop at a friend’s house along the way, I don’t have to plug in separate destinations. You can also clearly check your ETA when using many different forms of transportation. While this makes the app so amazing, I find that the app struggles to switch directions when a wrong turn is taken. This makes the drive a lot harder.

Google Maps

I am not Google Maps’ biggest fan; I find it very difficult to navigate. Usually, other websites will lead you here or to Apple Maps. Let me tell you that I rarely click Google Maps. I feel that they don’t give the best routes and it takes forever to load when you do take a wrong turn. I also think that the maps work poorly when there is no service, but the other apps seem to adjust fine. The one thing I do find useful about Google Maps is that the announcements come well before the actual directions so you are well aware. Google Maps also allows you to put in a potential location, and see how far it is from any address. These helpful qualities make the app easier to use, but I would never use it by choice because of the major flaws.

Now you are informed of the reasoning behind the passionate arguments over navigation apps. After reading this article I hope you choose the right app to determine the best path!